State Capitol News

11:33 am

Tue February 23, 2010

Lawmakers work toward open question sessions for governor

Phoenix, AZ – The legislation would require the governor to show up at leasttwice a month, for at least a half hour each time. Each politicalparty would get half of the alloted time. Sen. Jonathan Patonsaid there needs to be more of what he calls an ongoing dynamicconversation between lawmakers and the state's chief executive.But he said the exercise also benefits voters, like whenPresident Obama went to talk to congressional Reublicans and itwas broadcast on TV.

(And they learn a lot about their lawmakers. And they learn a lotabout the chief executive by watching that interaction. And Ithink that whoever you're going to have up there, whetheranswering the questions or asking the questions, is going to haveto be able to hold their own and really going to have todemonstrate that they have a full knowledge of the issues.)

But Sen. Ken Cheuvront pointed out the real model is the questiontime that takes place each week in the British Parliament. And hewasn't sure that system, which includes heckling, would work wellhere.

(I've watched some of these sessions in the English Parliament.And they can get pretty nasty. And my concern is are we settingourselves up to a point where it just becomes the opposite partyis just going to see how much they can embarass whoever the chiefexecutive is at that time.)

The Judiciary Committee approved the measure on a 4-3 vote,sending it to the full Senate. For Arizona Public Radio this isHoward Fischer.